Factory worker maliciously complies with micromanaging boss: 'I am not supposed to leave my station'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jul 15, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Having your manager tell you to be grateful for your job usually has the opposite effect. They can spend all day telling you that you should be happy that the company has brought you on board, and that you'd better give 110% every day if you want to keep your spot. Of course, that doesn't actually motivate employees. It just annoys them. The best way to get your employees to appreciate their job is by offering exceptional salaries, great benefits, FSA or HSA plans, 401ks, and pizza parties (but only if you're already offering those other things first!). Your employees will feel cared for if the company lets them take a week off to care for a family member… not if they're forced to work that week anyway, and then reminded how much they should be kissing the boots of the higher-ups. You just can't force these things, no matter how much micromanaging is done. 

This person works at a large factory, and their boss seems totally insufferable. He's breathing down their neck while constantly putting them down, and this person has had enough. Keep reading to see how they got back at him by using his own words against him! 

Next, read about these people who are trying to pump iron at the gym, but keep getting irritated by the other gym goers, like one person who shared, "2 guys at my gym… hoard all the dumbbells." 

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  • 01

    "Rules are important"

    I recently started working in a very large packaging facility. Beginning there I was excited for the opportunities I would have working for such a major company. Early on I noticed alot of placating/patronizing things that sent a message of "you should be greatful you work here". It was overly obnoxious implementation too. Keeping my rosy colored glassed on I am working as hard as I can despite everyday equipment not working correctly, conveyer belts not
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 02
    running etc. Now there are alot of rules "for our safety and the companies". One of the major rules is that if you are not officially trained for it do NOT do it, even if a manager tells you to. Recently they have become draconian with thier rules, at least for the lower rung workers, not so much for management if it convenienced them. So you are getting "coached" (why I'm tattling on you) frequently.
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 03
    Now there is a manager that should not have any leadership position whatsoever. He has zero interpersonal communication skills, anytime has has to talk to you he is demeaning, condescending and his voice/body language let you know how inconvenienced he is and can't believe he has to do it. Yesterday I had enough, cue malicious compliance....
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 04
    I'm packing items into boxes and putting them on the conveyer belt. I run out of a few size of boxes. So per protocol I turn on the help Light above my station and wait because I need those boxes. Manager(m) comes by: M: what's up Me: I need these boxes M: well do you know where they are? Or you can go get them from another station.
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 05
    Cheezburger Image 10529960704
    via RONNAKORN TRIRAGANON on Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 06
    Me: I was told not to do that M: what do you mean? You can't go get boxes? Ok I'm asking to go get boxes Me: I am not supposed to leave my station and that is "this persons" job that I'm not trained for. M:fine. The look on his face was blank but turning slightly red and I
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 07
    thought I could see steaming rage come out of his ears. In a few minutes I get my boxes(delivered by M) and continue work. Shortly after I see him showing around the person responsible for stocking our boxes. Not much time passes and the conveyer belt stops running and it fills up so we can't place packages on them. Before today I would stack them around my station and keep working/find a
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 08
    manager and find a solution. Our work area is not supposed to be cluttered and I'm not supposed to leave my station. So I turn the light on and stop working. M: Hey what's going on Me: I have no place to set my packages M: what do you mean put them right here. points at the floor next to my station
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 09
    Me: I was told to not put anything on the floor it's a tripping hazard. M: I can't beleive.....stammer who told you that?! When I worked at x locatuon...stammer........ Me: I had three trainers on separate occasions and situations tell me this. M:stares at me for a solid 3 seconds and looks around that station over there, walk over and stack the packet there. I'll put
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 10
    00
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 11
    them on the conveyor belt when I get back. The station is about fifty feet away and I'm on the end nearest it so i start jamming out walking packages over. I hear him telling the rest of the station to do the same. In the fifteen minutes it takes for the belt to run again there is at least 75 packages piled up in ther other station. All various sizes and weights. Manager walks by and stops dramatically, staring at the
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 12
    dragons hoard before him mouth open incredulous. The first package he picks up must have been heavy cause he stumbles a lil picking it up. The only place to put them on the line is right next to me. He proceeds to slam each and every one down on the belt huffing and puffing. I don't even aknowlede his existence but inside laughing my a off.
    via u/clintonumbarger
  • 13

    If only... a lot of these big companies will go to any lengths to stop a union from forming

    Cheezburger Image 10529965824
    via u/Thin-Ground-5185
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    Cheezburger Image 10529966336
    via u/Thin-Ground-5185
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    Cheezburger Image 10529966592
    via u/someofmypainisfandom
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    Cheezburger Image 10529966080
    via u/BeginningLynx1643

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boss workplace-stories jobs job bosses work factory workplace management micromanager micromanaging
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